Tag Archives: Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Apprentice Programme

Today was Lucien Green’s last day in the kitchen at the Singita School of Cooking. He managed to squeeze in one more demo before he left: confit duck gizzards, duck hearts, and orange segments all drizzled with a Dijon mustard dressing. I was worried I might not sample the duck delicacy as there was a sea of students in front of me destroying the delicious salad by the fork-full. As a thank-you to Lucien he was given a cooking school jacket with his name embroidered on it, a Singita book and an invitation for him and his wife to return to Singita Lebombo and Sweni Lodges. His remark? “I’ll certainly return but not in summer. I hear there are a lot of snakes around at that time!”

This has been a remarkable week. The students have gained mountains of knowledge and also a new friend. Everyone is looking forward to the return of Lucien Green.

Four points separated the teams in the end, but let’s start at the beginning. Lucien Green, Senior Training and Development Chef from Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Apprentice Programme, started the day by presenting his demo for plating carpaccio.

Then the students split into their teams to begin their own creations and Amos started the clock-watch – a 25 minute challenge! All teams finished in time so the first challenge was met. Some great dishes were created by all and the sirloin was delectable and tender.

After the judging it was time to announce the winner. In 4th place with 39 points was team D. In joint 2nd and 3rd place with 40.5 points were teams B and C and in first place with a whopping 43 points was team A. The grand prize? Each member of the winning team proudly accepted a chef’s jacket from Fifteen, together with a Fifteen-branded apron. The smiles couldn’t have been any bigger.

First day at Singita School of Cooking, Lucien Green, Senior Training and Development Chef at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Apprentice Programme in London arrived this morning to find the students all huddled around a bench paying attention to Amos, the chef in charge, giving instruction on stuffed focaccia. Amos was enthusiastically demonstrating how to prepare the fillings, which looked world-class: tomato, caramelized onion, mushrooms, all roasted with rosemary and garlic. He placed the filling in the middle of the bread then folded the bread around. Then the challenge was presented: Group A against Group B – whose baked delicacy will win? While the bread baked it gave Chef Lucien time to talk to some of the students individually as they continued with their prep duties. Forty minutes later with the smell of freshly cooked bread, the focaccia was done. In true chef style everyone approached, not giving time for the bread to cool and everyone waiting for a bite. Lucien was asked by Amos to do the honor of judging. All of the breads were mouthwatering but there could only be one winner and group A took the prize. Group B was a close second and poor Amos came third. It takes a good teacher to lose to his students!